Natural Solar Lighting
One way to increase
the energy efficiency of your home is to use natural
solar lighting.
This type of lighting takes direct advantage of the sun to provide
illumination for your home. During the daytime, you will not need to use
so many lights if rooms are lit by the sun's rays. By adding a tubular
skylight, you can easily lessen the amount of electricity that you use.
Here are the
basic steps for adding natural solar lighting to your own home:
1. Decide
where you want the light. This decision should be based on where the light
will be most beneficial as well as on where the most light is capable of
being received. If the skylight is created in a room where lights are never
used as it is, or if it is blocked by a tree all day, you won't be saving
much energy.
2. Cut a hole in the ceiling.
3. Cut a hole in the roof and flashing.
4. Insert the tube and secure it.
5. At the roof level, add the necessary foam seal, exterior dome, and clamp.
How you mount it depends on the pitch of your roof.
6. Inside, add the interior seals and diffuser.
This is an
outline of the process, but a professional should assist you with the actual
installation. In addition to natural solar lighting, consider utilizing
passive solar heating and cooling for greater energy efficiency.